Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) waves to his supporters on stage as he arrives for his own midterm election victory party on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Hoboken. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez completed his comeback from a corruption trial and ethics admonishment Tuesday, winning a third term by defeating millionaire Republican challenger Bob Hugin, who used his wealth to bury him under negative ads.

Democrats also captured three Republican-held House seats, while a fourth appeared too close to call.

Democrat Tom Malinowski beat Rep. Leonard Lance in the 7th District, and Democrats captured two open seats with wins by State Sen. Jeff Van Drew in South Jersey's 2nd District and Mikie Sherrill in North Jersey's 11th District.

Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur and Democrat Andy Kim remained locked in a tight race in the 3rd District. Republican Rep. Chris Smith was re-elected easily in the 4th District.

The Associated Press called the Senate race for Menendez just before 9 p.m. when few results were in, but Hugin urged supporters to wait to see returns and did not concede until around 10:15 p.m. With 81 percent of the vote counted, Menendez led by about 9 percentage points.

Menendez alluded to his corruption trial and Senate admonishment very briefly in his victory speech.

“For those who did not vote for me or who were disappointed in me, I pledge to spend every day fighting for you and your families and to earn back your respect,” he said.

The battle for Senate and 12 House seats was the most expensive in New Jersey history, costing at least $127 million. House races in formerly "safe" districts were fiercely competitive, and could signal an end to one-party Republican rule during the second half of President Donald Trump's term.

Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby of Hillside was the juror that was dismissed because of a planned vacation during Senator Bob Menendez's corruption trial in 2017. Arroyo attends the election party in support of Menendez on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Hoboken. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com

The marquee race pitted two 64-year-olds who once served on the same Union City school board together as students. Hugin went on to win a scholarship to Princeton, served in the Marines, and then went into business, eventually retiring in February as executive chairman of Celgene Corp.

Menendez went into local politics, testified against a mayor who had been his mentor at a corruption trial, and then moved on to the Legislature and the House before being appointed to the Senate and winning his first full term in 2006.

Indicted for bribery and other corruption offenses in 2015, Menendez pledged he would be absolved. An 11-week trial last fall ended with a deadlocked jury, then the judge early this year acquitted him on the most serious charges and the Justice Department decided not to retry him on the remaining counts. The bipartisan Senate ethics committee reopened a probe it had put on hold while the criminal process was underway, and said Menendez had brought disrepute on the chamber and issued a public letter of admonishment.

Arroyo-Maultsby became slightly famous when she left the Bob Menendez corruption trial jury during deliberations to go on vacation.
Scott Fallon, Staff Writer, @NewsFallon

Arroyo-Maultsby became slightly famous when she left the jury during deliberations to go on vacation – an arrangement she made with U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, along with defense lawyers and prosecutors.

On Tuesday, she wore a Menendez t-shirt on Tuesday night that she received at a rally last month.

“I never really knew anything about him before the trial,” she said. “He’s a good man. I was in that jury room and I know he didn’t do anything wrong.”

Hugin, who aired commercials citing unproven allegations about Menendez and underage prostitutes, gave his concession speech as supporters at the State House Tavern in Mountainside chanted "Lock him up" in reference to Menendez.

"I'm proud of what we've done," Hugin said. "I had my self respect the day before this campaign started and I have my self respect today."

Polls had shown voters disapproved of Menendez, but a majority were prepared to elect him because they disapproved of Trump even more. Hugin tried to distance himself from Trump, who tweeted on Tuesday that Hugin "has my complete and total Endorsement!"

Bob Hugin, successful all of his life, would be a Great Senator from New Jersey. He has my complete and total Endorsement! Get out and Vote for Bob.

Hugin spokeswoman Megan Piwowar said the endorsement came as a surprise and was not requested. Menendez’s response was concise.

“Thank you,” he wrote on Twitter.

2nd District

Van Drew became the odds-on favorite to capture the seat being vacated by Rep. Frank LoBiondo's retirement after the national GOP abandoned its nominee, attorney Seth Grossman, because of news coverage of racially divisive social media posts.

Local GOP organizations stuck with Grossman, however, and he said Tuesday he was not going to concede.

"I’m concerned, I seem to be behind, and I’m running out of room to catch up as I see precincts come in," Grossman said. "But I’m just going to wait until they all come in. I don’t want to make any final comment until I know exactly how every vote came in."

3rd District

With MacArthur ahead of Kim 50 percent to 49 percent in unofficial results, Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore said MacArthur would not make a public statement Tuesday night.

Kim spoke to supporters shortly after 12:30 a.m. as the race remained too close to call.

"We have a little bit longer to go, but we want you to believe in this," Kim said, his supporters listening with their cell phones raised over their heads. "We are going to make sure every single vote is counted."

Gilmore noted MacArthur had won Ocean County by more than 30,000 votes, and that voting machine totals from both Burlington and Ocean counties showed him in the lead.

But Gilmore said there were more than 2,000 provisional ballots still to be counted in Ocean County, and an unknown number of provisional and mail-in ballots still uncounted in Burlington County. He said MacArthur would not make a public statement Tuesday night.

MacArthur, a 58-year-old former insurance executive from Toms River who spent $5 million of his own money winning the seat four years ago, became the most reliable New Jersey vote for Trump policies during the current Congress. He helped revive a stalled effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cast the only Garden State vote for the tax overhaul enacted in December.

Kim, 36, of Bordentown, is a Rhodes Scholar who served as a national security aide during the administrations of presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He used the health insurance and tax votes to attack MacArthur, while promising to hold monthly in-person town hall meetings if elected.

4th District

Smith, 65, of Robbinsville defeated Navy veteran Josh Welle, 39, of Rumson to extend a career in Congress that began with the 1980 election.

“There is a blue wave. You look on television and you can see that the House is lost. … But we bent into that wind, not with it,” he told a cheering throng at the Monmouth County GOP’s election night party in Freehold. “And I can tell you this is a very sweet victory for so many of us.”

Welle told supporters at The Downtown, a pub in Red Bank, to unite stronger for the next election.

"Let us be bold and brave as we move forward as a stronger Democratic Party, more inclusive, more equal, more optimistic because there are better days ahead, because tomorrow's better, because next year is better," Welle said.

7th District

"My deepest gratitude goes to all of the residents of this wonderful congressional district. The election is now over," Lance said. "We must move the nation forward in a bipartisan and united way, treating each other with civility and respect, as I have always done and will continue to do."

Lance, 66, of Clinton Township, is a five-term incumbent and former minority leader of the state Legislature who touted his bipartisan credentials, including his membership on the House Problem Solvers Caucus, which crafted compromise proposals on such issues such as health care and immigration that were never brought up for votes by the GOP leadership.

Malinowski, 53, of Rocky Hill, is a Rhodes Scholar who served as assistant secretary of state and Washington director of Human Rights Watch. He closed his campaign by urging supporters to see a vote for him as a rejection of "fear" offered by the GOP.

Speaking at his campaign phone bank in Bridgewater Tuesday, Malinowski said volunteers had knocked on more than 100,000 doors.

"I don't think that this part of New Jersey has ever seen a volunteer-driven campaign like this," he said. "I know that whatever happens, we'll have no regrets."

11th District

A mother of four from Montclair, she caught the attention of Democrats around the country as a prolific fundraiser with a sterling resume that included service as a Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor.

Cheered on by a movement to resist Trump that sprang up in 2017 and staged regular rallies at Frelinghuysen's office, Sherrill thanked grass roots activists and urged them to remain engaged. She was also embraced by the party's elite, with Vice President Joe Biden and gun safety crusader Gabrielle Gifford coming to the district as she raised more than $7 million, a record for a New Jersey House candidate.

"Now is a time for our country to come together and have faith in our democracy," Sherrill told supporters.

Jay Webber supporters listened as their candidate gave his concession speech in Whippany. Tuesday, November 6, 2018(Photo: Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com)

Webber, 46, is a father of seven who won a contested June primary and was never able to catch up with Sherrill's head start in fundraising. He got help from Washington, however, with Vice President Mike Pence coming to the district for a private fundraiser, and Trump hosting one for him and two other candidates in Washington.

“Tonight the Sherrill campaign has received more votes than we have,” Webber told supporters at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany. He said the campaign could not overcome being outspent 10-to-1 in the month of October.

Other districts across New Jersey

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Mikie Sherrill makes her acceptance speech, winning for the Democrats a seat held by Republicans for more than 30 years. Sherrill defeated Republican candidate, state Assemblyman Jay Webber in the 11th District.
November 6, 2018, Parsippany, NJ Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Mikie Sherrill makes her acceptance speech, winning for the Democrats a seat held by Republicans for more than 30 years. Sherrill defeated Republican candidate, state Assemblyman Jay Webber in the 11th District.
November 6, 2018, Parsippany, NJ Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Mikie Sherrill makes her acceptance speech, winning for the Democrats a seat held by Republicans for more than 30 years. Sherrill defeated Republican candidate, state Assemblyman Jay Webber in the 11th District.
November 6, 2018, Parsippany, NJ Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

NJ U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin lost his bid to beat incumbent Senator Bob Menendez during midterm elections on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin covers his eyes while giving a concession speech to his supporters at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday night. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

NJ U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin walks on stage to give a concession speech to his supporters at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin lost against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

NJ U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin gave a concession speech to his supporters at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin lost against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

Sean Flanagan (cane), of Florham Park, and other Republicans, in Whippany, watch a news cast to keep up to date on senate and congressional races across the nation. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

Chris Gabbett (sitting), of Madison, and other Webber supporters did not like the results they saw on Election Day as their candidate lost to Mikie Sherrill. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

Supporters of Mikie Sherrill explode into cheers as CNN names her the winner for the NJ 11th Congress seat at the Parsippany Sheraton. The Naval Academy graduate, Navy Pilot and former federal prosecutor was running for Rodney Frelinghuysen's seat in the NJ 11th district. November 6, 2018, Parsippany, NJ Bob Karp/Staff Photographer

Sean Flanagan (center), of Florham Park, and other Republicans, in Whippany, watch a news cast to keep up to date on senate and congressional races across the nation. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

Jay Webber thanked his supporters as he stood by his family in Whippany Tuesday night. Webber congratulated Mikie Sherrill over the phone on her victory. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin, with his wife Kathy, thanks his supporters on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

Supporters of U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin cheer for him on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

Kathy Hugin hugs a supporter after her husband U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin and she, thank supporters on stage on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin, with his wife Kathy thanks his supporters on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin thanks his supporters on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin greets his wife Kathy on stage to thank his supporters on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin, with his wife Kathy and daughter Hilary thanks his supporters on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin thanks his supporters on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin, with his wife Kathy and daughter Hilary thanks his supporters on election night after the polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin signs a campaign poster for a supporter on election night while mingling with supporters at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside before the polls close in New Jersey on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin mingles with supporters on election night at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside before the polls close in New Jersey on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin mingles with supporters on election night at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside before the polls close in New Jersey on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin wrote a note to Caroline Turco 88, his high school chemistry teacher, on election night at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Turco taught Hugin at Emerson High School in Union City. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin mingles with supporters on election night before polls close at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin gets a kiss from Caroline Turco 88, his high school chemistry teacher, on election night at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Turco taught Hugin at Emerson High School in Union City. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin shares a laugh with supporters after posing for a picture with them on election night at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside before the polls close in New Jersey on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Bob Hugin mingles with supporters on election night at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside before the polls close in New Jersey on Tuesday, November, 6, 2018. Hugin is running against incumbent Senator Bob Menendez. Amy Newman/NorthJersey.com

John Krickus, Republican candidate for Morris County Freeholder, speaks to Jordan Chester, of Basking Ridge and Victor and Rose Palumbo, of Rockaway Township, at the the Hanover Marriott in Whippany for Jay Webber's election night gathering. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com